Due Friday May8, 2020

See the attached instructions doc for better understanding.

Assignment must be written to instructions and grading rubric that is attached. Projects 1-3 are attached are to be uses as resources in writing this paper. 

Strategy Selection, Implementation and Evaluation

Purpose: 

This project is the last of four projects. You will generate a pool of alternative strategies, evaluate these alternative strategies, and select the best strategy using the tools and concepts learned throughout the course. You will develop implementation plans, evaluative plans to control the implementation process, and plan for post-evaluation measures. You will also draw from previous business courses to develop an understanding of how organizations develop and manage strategies to establish, safeguard and sustain its position in a competitive market. 

Skill Building: 

In this project, you are building many different skills including research, critical thinking, writing and developing analytical skills related to various financial analysis tools and strategy tools used in business. You will select optimal strategies, design how to implement and evaluate the implementation process of the optimal strategies.

Outcomes Met With This Project:

Examine the impact of ethical decision making, social responsibility, stakeholder analysis, and corporate governance on organizations and society

Utilize a set of useful analytical skills, tools, and techniques for analyzing a company strategically;

Integrate ideas, concepts, and theories from previously taken functional courses including, accounting, finance, market, business and human resource management;

Analyze and synthesize strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to generate, prioritize, and implement alternative strategies in order to revise a current plan or write a new plan and present a strategic plan;

Evaluate the outcomes of identified strategies to determine their success and impact on short-term and long-term objectives.

Instructions: 

Step 1: Course Material and Research

You are required to research information about the focal company and the internal environment for this project, You are accountable for using the course materials to support the ideas, reasoning and conclusions made. Course materials use goes beyond defining terms but is used to explain the ‘why and how’ of a situation. Using one or two in-text citations from the course materials and then relying on Internet source material will not earn many points on the assignment. A variety of source material is expected and what is presented must be relevant and applicable to the topic being discussed. Avoid merely making statements but close the loop of the discussion by explaining how something happens or why something happens, which focuses on importance and impact. In closing the loop, you will demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rationally showing an understanding of the logical connections between the ideas presented from the research, the course material and the question(s) being asked.

Note: Your report is based on the results of the research performed and not on any prepared documentation. What this means is that you will research and draw your own conclusions that are supported by the research and the course material rather than the use any source material that puts together any of the tools or techniques whether from the Internet, for-pay websites or any pre-prepared document, video or source material. A zero will be earned for not doing your own analysis.

Success: The analysis is based on research and not opinion. You are not making recommendations and you will not attempt to position the focal company in a better or worse light than other companies within the industry merely because you are completing an analysis on this particular company. The analysis must be based on factual information. Any conclusions drawn have to be based on factual information rather than leaps of faith. To ensure success, as stated above, you are expected to use the course materials and research on the focal company’s global industry and the focal company. Opinion does not earn credit nor does using external sources when course materials can be used. It is necessary to provide explanations (the why and how) rather than making statements. Avoid stringing one citation after another as doing so does not show detailed explanations.

Step 2: Research 

In completing the report, you will use the chapters in the eBook as a guide and perform research on the same company as in Projects 1 and 2, answer the required elements below in narrative form following the steps. 

Note: Your report is based on the results of the research performed and not on any prepared documentation. What this means is that you will research and draw your own conclusions that are supported by the research and the course material rather than the use any source material that puts together any of the tools or techniques whether from the Internet, or any document, video or source material. A zero will be earned for not doing your own analysis. Projects 1-3 research may be used. 

Library Resources

You should not be using obscure articles, GlassDoor, or Chron or similar articles. 

Research for Financial Analysis: Financial Research https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Financial%20Research.docx?_&d2lSessionVal=QnprPn1y7xewI4qTaCNPNDJcz

Research for Industry Analysis CSI Market https://csimarket.com/Industry/Industry_Financial_strength.php

Research for Financial Analysis: Financial Research https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Financial%20Research.docx?_&d2lSessionVal=IUSyyXEtolYcJLeplpYOXgNYc

Research for Industry Analysis CSI Market https://csimarket.com/Industry/Industry_Financial_strength.php

Resources

The course ebook chapters are attached in PDF Doc’s

Research for Financial Analysis: Financial Research https://learn.umuc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Financial%20Research.docx?_&d2lSessionVal=N2iHBW3H7GaoSufIDiNAy2STw

Research for Industry Analysis CSI Market https://csimarket.com/Industry/Industry_Financial_strength.php

What is Strategy? Common Misunderstandings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hd88eBgkw0

What is Strategy? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7WSLeQtVw

Your Strategy Needs a Strategy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE_ETgaFVo8&feature=youtu.be

Goldsmith, D. (2013, July/Aug). Rethinking the company’s competitive advantage. Financial Executive 29(6), 14-17. https://learn.umuc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Rethinking%20the%20Company’s%20Competitive%20Advantage.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=N2iHBW3H7GaoSufIDiNAy2STw

Papula, J., Volna, J. (2013). Core competence for sustainable competitive advantage. Academic Conference, 1-7. https://learn.umuc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Core%20Competence%20for%20Sustainable%20Competitive%20Advantage.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=N2iHBW3H7GaoSufIDiNAy2STw

What is Strategy?: The Three Levels of Strategy https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/what-is-strategy.htm

What is Strategic Planning, Really? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLJ34L5UW4E

Strategic Management Process http://www.managementstudyguide.com/strategic-management-process.htm

Creating a Strategy That Works http://www.strategy-business.com/feature/Creating-a-Strategy-That-Works

Hard Ball: Five Killer Strategies for Trouncing the Competition. (HBR) http://hbr.org/2004/04/hardball-five-killer-strategies-for-trouncing-the-competition/ar/1

Porter’s (1980) Generic Strategies as Determinants of Strategic Group Membership and Organizational Performance https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/256040.pdf

Rumelt, R. (2011, June) The perils of bad strategy, McKinsey Quarterly. http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-perils-of-bad-strategy

Bradley, C., Hirt, M. & Smit, S. (2011, January). Have you tested your strategy lately? McKinsey Quarterly. http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/strategy/have_you_tested_your_strategy_lately

How to Stress-Test Your Strategy (10:15 minutes; transcript available) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS-Slo8S6V4

Is the resource-based view a useful perspective for strategic management research? https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Is%20the%20Resource-based%20%E2%80%9CView%E2%80%9D%20a%20Useful%20Perspective%20for%20Strategic%20Management%20Research.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=c4Ew75q7R4wFi3THHXVNbS9h9

Selecting Among Alternative Grand Strategies https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Selecting%20among%20alternative%20grand%20strategies.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=c4Ew75q7R4wFi3THHXVNbS9h9

Concentrated Growth Strategies https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Concentrated%20growth%20strategies.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=c4Ew75q7R4wFi3THHXVNbS9h9

Introduction to Industry Analysis (13:43 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DFd-ZNbNX4

Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage https://learn.umuc.edu/content/enforced/180848-001153-01-2168-US2-4165/J%20Barney_Firm%20resources%20and%20sustained%20competitive%20advantage.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=uOVC5ogbMFjzICnFgef1dHQhB&ou=180848

SWOT Analysis From a Resource-Based View https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/SWOT%20analysis%20from%20a%20resource-based%20view.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=c4Ew75q7R4wFi3THHXVNbS9h9

The Reality of Digital Disruption–How to Stay Ahead https://www.forbes.com/sites/insights-treasuredata/2018/07/17/the-reality-of-digital-disruption-how-to-stay-ahead/#6682ea9443c1

Porter’s (1980) Generic Strategies as Determinants of Strategic Group Membership and Organizational Performance http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.umuc.edu/stable/256040

Blue Ocean Strategy https://soundcloud.com/embiant/y2matecom-the-explainer-blue-ocean-strategy-2n3xqyuowim

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix http://www.professionalacademy.com/news/marketing-theories-boston-consulting-group-matrix

What is Corporate Strategy, Really? http://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/what-is-corporate-strategy-really/

Strategy, Marketing, and Technology are all Intertwined http://chiefmartec.com/2014/01/strategy-marketing-technology-intertwined/

Exploring the Structural Effects of Internetworking https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Exploring%20the%20Structural%20Effects%20of%20Internetworking.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=IUSyyXEtolYcJLeplpYOXgNYc

IBM Internetworking http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ibm-technologies/data-link-switching-dlsw-data-link-switching-plus-dlsw-/12305-18.html

How to Build Collaborative Advantage http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-to-build-collaborative-advantage/

Globalization in Uncertain Times: 10 Key Takeaways http://www.ieseinsight.com/doc.aspx?id=1871&ar=6&idioma=2

What a Trump Presidency Will Mean for Globalization http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/globalization-and-a-trump-presidency/?utm_source=kw_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2016-11-15

Getting Organizational Redesign Right http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/getting-organizational-redesign-right

Hsieh, T. and Yik, S. (2005, February). Leadership as the starting point of strategy. McKinsey & Company http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/leading_in_the_21st_century/leadership_as_the_starting_point_of_strategy

It’s Not The CEO, It’s The Leadership Strategy That Matters http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbersin/2012/07/30/its-not-the-ceo-its-the-leadership-strategy-that-matters/

Does Your Strategy Need a Strategy Part 1 http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/does-your-strategy-need-a-strategy-part-i/

Does Your Strategy Need a Strategy Part 2 http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/does-your-strategy-need-a-strategy-part-ii/

Strategy and Corporate Culture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC13IaTFtXg

Levels of Culture http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_schein_three_levels_culture.html

Structure and Strategy in Multinational Corporations: A Reexamination of the Stopford and Wells Model https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/456311-001153-01-2202-US2-6250/Structure%20and%20Strategy%20in%20Multinational%20Corporations%20-%20A%20rexamination%20of%20the%20Stopford%20and%20Wells%20Model.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=IUSyyXEtolYcJLeplpYOXgNYc

Newer

Global Consumerism and Sustainability http://michaelczinkota.com/2013/01/global-consumerism-and-sustainability/

Creating Value Through Sustainable Design https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/creating-value-through-sustainable-design

The Climate Challenge: Achieving Zero Emissions http://www.oecd.org/environment/the-climate-challenge-achieving-zero-emissions.htm

Selecting strategies by linking the analytical outcomes in all the projects https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/422002-001153-01-2198-OL1-6380/Selecting%20strategies%20080619.docx?_&d2lSessionVal=QnprPn1y7xewI4qTaCNPNDJcz

Strategic Management: Strategy Evaluation and Control https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfKLoGZiR4s

Where Companies With a Long-Term View Outperform Their Peers https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/long-term-capitalism/where-companies-with-a-long-term-view-outperform-their-peers

Step 3: Specific Company for All Three Projects 

Assigned Company: Quanta Services, Inc. (NYS:PWR) https://www.quantaservices.com/

For this project, each student in this course has been specifically assigned by your instructor to write an independent report on one focal company. The assigned company must be used for all three projects in this course. You are not allowed to write the reports on any other company different from the company specifically assigned by your instructor. Students who fail to use the specifically assigned companies from the list or use an unapproved company will receive a zero for the project.

Step 4: Preparation for the Project

Before you begin writing the report, you will read the following requirements that will help you meet the writing and APA requirements. 

You will be doing an analysis on the selected company. When doing an analysis you are not merely making statements that may be cited. Instead, you will be supporting the statements made. “Support” is the process of explaining, discussing and analyzing “why” and “how,” which is a higher level critical analytical skill that is required for this class. Support is needed to do well on this project.

Read the grading rubric for the project. Use the grading rubric while writing the report to ensure all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade.

Step 5: How to Set Up the Project 

The document has to be written in Word or rtf. No other format is acceptable. No pdf files will be graded. Use 12-point font for a double-spaced report. The final product cannot be longer than 16 pages in length, excluding the title page and reference page. Those items identified in the implementation and action plans should appear under the appropriate heading in the paper. Do no use an Appendix. 

Create a title page with title, your name, the course number, the instructor’s name.

Use the following template using the headings to separate elements. Do not use bullets in your paper as the required format is in narrative format with indented paragraph and no extra space between paragraphs.

Introduction

(The Introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of the paper and will be used to describe to the reader the intent of the paper explaining the main points covered in the paper. This intent should be understood prior to reading the remainder of the paper so the reader knows exactly what is being covered in the paper. Write the introduction last to ensure all of the main points are covered.)

Alternative Strategy Generation

To generate a pool of strategies, you will look at the organization’s business level strategy, corporate level strategy and global strategy. Using the information and data collected from your research, and the analytical outcomes from (a) external factor analysis in your Project 1 and (b) internal factor analysis in Project 2, you will generate a pool of strategies.

Generate a minimum of three possible alternative strategies for the company.

Identify and discuss cultural and organizational factors that should be considered in analyzing and choosing among the alternative strategies.

Strategy Prioritization

Prioritize strategies and explain using the course material to support the reasoning – Use the tools learned in the course.

Strategy Selection

Explain how to select the best strategy or strategies

Recommend the best one or two strategies and long-term objectives among the alternative strategies and explain why these strategies and objectives are best

Identify strategy recommendations using the following format for the formulation of strategies. Make sure you are thorough in your presentation.

View Strategy Content Guidelines. https://learn.umuc.edu/content/enforced/134214-M_001153-01-2162/Strategy%20Content%20Example.docx

Goal (The desired outcomes to be achieved)

Objective (Measurable milestone toward accomplishing the Goal)

Strategy (The approach used to achieve the Goal)

Tactic (A specific activity undertaken to implement the Strategy)

Review this resource to differentiate between Strategy Versus Operations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQCo-7SMJ_c&t=33s and Strategy Versus Tactics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRgQlW4qRTo

Strategy Implementation

Recommend procedures for strategy implementation.

Discuss who, what and how to implement the selected strategy or strategies at the corporate level, business-unit level, and functional level.

Strategy Evaluation

Use frameworks and tools discussed throughout the course. Support the reasoning and conclusions made.

Discuss procedures for strategy review and evaluation

Discuss the appropriate evaluative measures (including who, what, when and how at the corporate level, business-unit level, and functional level)

Discuss a corrective action plan (including who, what, when and how) at the corporate level, business-unit level, and functional level.)

Conclusion

Create a concluding paragraph. The Conclusion is intended to emphasize the purpose/significance of the analysis, emphasize the significance/consequence of findings, and indicate the wider applications that are derived from the main points of the project’s requirements. You will draw conclusions about the findings of the external environment analysis.

Step 6: Review the Paper 

Read the paper to ensure all required elements are present.

The following are specific requirements that you will follow. Use the checklist to mark off that you have followed each specific requirement. 

Checklist

Specific Project Requirements

Proofread your paper

Read and use the grading rubric while completing the paper to ensure all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade. 

Third person writing is required. Third person means that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person. 

Contractions are not used in business writing, so do not use them. 

Paraphrase and do not use direct quotations. Paraphrase means you do not use more than four consecutive words from a source document. Removing quotation marks and citing is inappropriate. Instead put a passage from a source document into your own words and attribute the passage to the source document. There should be no passages with quotation marks. Using more than four consecutive words from a source document would require direct quotation marks. Changing words from a passage does not exclude the passage from having quotation marks. If more than four consecutive words are used from source documents, this material will not be included in the grade. 

You are expected to use the research and weekly course materials to develop the analysis and support the reasoning. There should be a robust use of the course material. Material used from a source document must be cited and referenced. A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa. Changing words from a passage does not exclude the passage from having quotation marks. 

Use in-text citations and provide a reference list that contains the reference associated with each in-text citation.

You may not use books in completing this problem set unless part of the course material. Also, do not use a dictionary, Wikipedia, Investopedia, Fern Fort University, Ibis World or any other for-free website.

Provide the page or paragraph number in every in-text citation presented. Since the eBook does not have page numbers, include the chapter title and topic heading. If using a video, provide the minutes and second of the cited material.